BossKitty is tired of it all. Politics in Texas is a Consumer issue. Those who Consume the most are in charge.

Wealthy Texans CONSUME the political environment. Whoever disagrees with the will of the wealthy will be gerrymandered out of their voice, by a bought and paid for Texas State Congress.

I know Texas is not the only state where this problem exists. But, this is MY state and I just live here and have to keep my head low … someone may blow it off because I complain about them on this blog.

Texas Corruption is only interesting because most Texans are so proud of it. If you ask a Texan why, they really don’t know, except that’s what they are supposed to say.

This is the last BossKitty submission. Uncertain when I will do another post on TruthHugger. This has been a long and passionate ride. The dirt in my back yard is cleaner than the Texas GOP. Political dialog in Texas gives me a headache. If Texas becomes a purple state in my lifetime, I will rejoice. I thank the Texas Progressive Alliance for their dedication to the daunting task of revealing the puppets and puppeteers that control our lives.

So, after pissing in the wind for several years, while it blows in the wrong direction, BossKitty is taking a break. Call it a Sabbatical …

WIKI: Sabbatical – is a rest from work, or a hiatus, often lasting from two months to a year.

My topics have been Corruption, Environment, Disasters, Social Inequities, Educational Inequities, Health Care Inequities and a myriad of hopefully interesting rants and raves.

Feb. 5, 2013 — It’s no secret that fear is a mechanism often used in political campaigns to steer public opinion on hot-button issues like immigration and war. But not everyone is equally predisposed to be influenced by such a strategy, according to new research by Rose McDermott, professor of political science, and colleagues published in the American Journal of Political Science.

Maybe it would be healthier if America divided into separate countries … Secession for the extremists. Every person with a pre-concieved opinion must decide whether or not they want to understand opposing points of view. If they are satisfied with not expanding their knowledge and understanding, they must choose a country that suits their fantasy.

The question is, how many countries should America become … the only rule would be for each of these countries leave the others alone. BossKitty is pretty certain that the country that beckons will be inclusive and respectful of humanity and the planet. The balancing act among the many diverse views, dogmas and opinions is extreme in America. The population of moderates, in America. that respect other’s rights is shrinking. Syria and many Middle Eastern and African countries are facing the result of rigid political and religious dogma … the headlines show ‘Massacres’ of one side or another.

Each separated country would be banned from imposing their rhetoric upon the others. It would have to be accepted that many families would be broken apart, due to the myriad of conflicting opinions.

All contact between these separate countries would have to be mediated by a third party and never take place without witnesses. If we still have electricity, contact can be videotaped, etc.

The hate filled, racist, side should separate from America and live in a white, heterosexual, evangelical heaven of their own design … to practice the special privileges given to them by God … consume the earth’s soul and give nothing back.

The more progressive, inclusive side, should separate from America and create their own co-existing, diverse nirvana, and live with dignity. The progressive side will do it’s best to repair the damaged planet that nurtures them.

All the rich oligarchs, so intent on becoming medieval lords, should separate into their own privileged monarchy, with their own serfs and slaves helping them pollute everything that surrounds them.

The weapons manufacturers should have their own ‘offshore’ country, so they can encourage wars all over the world … but ultimately, they will have to figure out where to spend their profits …

The last person standing will be very rich and very lonely.

Of course this is my own fantasy. There is no way anyone could reach enough common ground to make secession feasible. We are all connected and intertwined and co-dependent with one another. The collective WE has lost incentive to even try. We are programmed to follow. We are dependent on others to shape our opinions. Emotionally exhausted, BossKitty takes a break.

The Democrats in the Texas House are trying to show that the GOP doesn’t care about public education. They should since it’s been the best winning strategy for Texas Democrats in the recent past. WCNews at Eye on Williamson posts on this week’s news from The Lege, Texas House Democrats have a plan.

“Tip your server, save the world” is a suitable mantra for living in the second decade of the 21st century. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs shares the message of transforming everything you can, within the reach of your own arm, from Will Pitt.

BossKitty at TruthHugger needs a break from writing about neglected matters in Texas, America and the World. Since we elect leaders to represent corporate interests that live on another planet, we must do our best individually and locally. BossKitty Takes A Sabbatical.

The roster of progressive blogs in Texas got a little thinner this past week. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs laments the state of the blogosphere but reminds his friends and enemies that they are not likely to see him go away any time soon.

Out of fairness alone the areas that had to sacrifice during the bad times, should be taken care of first once good times return. But, as WCNews at Eye on Williamson points out, that’s unlikely to change without a lot of public pressure,The budget, fear, and ideology.

Honesty is the primary victim, accountability is lost in the noise and integrity is not profitable anymore. How do we teach our children to be honest? How do we convince our children to be truthful and honest?

Politicians, judges, prosecutors and policeman look out for each other, while they lock up the everyday citizens for anything from the trivial to the atrocious. If they make us all look like criminals, their indiscretions don’t appear as damning. Can they control and threaten us to stop the questions we ask? The latest round of Role Models crashing around us include sports figures, politicians, judges and various celebrities. They lie, they cheat, they steal, they commit sexual crimes … They deny over and over and over … only to look like cartoon characters once they are finally nailed to the wall with overwhelming evidence.

The most disgusting aspect of all this, is the damage to those who dare speak the truth. Some ‘TruthHuggers’ are blasted, bruised and discredited by high profile criminals protecting their advantages of celebrity and wealth. This is the legacy America is leaving to it’s children.

Certainly, there are local heroes, who stretch their capabilities to help individuals and their communities. But, sadly, there are fewer and fewer state or national heroes that are infallible. These high profile celebrities, politicians, clerics, sports figures and judges are crashing all around us.

Superman would have to change his motto from “Truth, Justice and the American Way”, to “Our Way or No Way” or “America, the land of the Free to Lie, Cheat and Steal …” The world watches America’s headlines and judges us as not trustworthy. Our children learn from us and figure out better ways to Lie, Cheat and Steal.

As early voting began, Brains and Eggs had the most comprehensive coverage of the special election to replace the late Mario Gallegos in the Texas Senate. A post on the protest at TransCanada, two posts on Sylvia Garcia’s aggressivecampaign against Carol Alvarado, a post on the candidate who boycotted one of the debates, and a post critical of the exceptionally lame media coverage of the election highlighted a busy week.

On Wednesday, January 16, 2013 – President Obama announced 23 Executive orders moving toward a more responsible environment surrounding Gun Control for Military Assault Weapons. Finally, recognizing that comprehensive background checks are necessary to REDUCE the availability of firearms in the hands of people who could or would misuse those firearms. The NRA has taken their opportunity to exercise it’s 1st Amendment rights to condemn ANY responsibility applied to their sponsors.

NRA is sponsored by a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry that profits from purchases of Military Weapons and profits from armed conflict and from Drug Cartels. These weapons manufacturers supply the ordinary citizen PLUS Armed Militias, Drug Cartels and Terrorists (by proxy … of course). This industry really has no interest in any reasons for conflicts or consequences, they just know that’s where the money is! It’s always about the money.

In America, the weapons industry is funding NRA attacks on President Obama. NRA resents applying the word RESPONSIBILITY applied to gun ownership. President acknowledges the rights of responsible gun owners, hunters, sports and collectors. What the President did NOT say is that America’s Armed Militias will ultimately become Domestic Terrorists … again, NRA, the front for the weapons industry, wants to distract the public from THAT reality.

After the Aurora Theater massacre in July 2012, Forbes article: The NRA Industrial Complex – … the key to gun industry growth in the last few years is the NRA’s effort to scare gun owners and stop President Obama from being re-elected. NRA’s power comes from the way it spends money to reward politicians, who turn its self-interest into the law of the land and use its money and power to defeat politicians who oppose its will. Guns are an essential ingredient in senseless mass murders like the one in Aurora. And gun industry money is similarly vital to stifling anyone who dares discuss changes in the law that would keep Rugers and Glocks out of the hands of lunatics like Holmes, Loughner, and Cho. –

There is incomplete data for the average for gun related deaths a day in America, including suicides. There is a gap in reporting consistency to follow the actual figures as they happen. Not all gun deaths are as spectacular as the recent massacres America has suffered recently.

Dr. David Healy, author of The Antidepressant Era, Let Them Eat Prozac, and ‘Pharmageddon, did a lot of research to create a comprehensive chart of cause and effect of antidepressants and violence in America. Even though this chart list is very incomplete, it does illustrate the predominant connection to a greater formula for disaster, here in America. It is a formula that cannot be stopped easily. Endangering society to reap financial profit is criminal! Among those profiting from the combination of Drugs, Weapons and Disinformation is Doctors, Lawyers, Gun Manufacturers, Drug Manufacturers, Hollywood, Anarchists and Armageddon Advocates.

I have tried to make such a list for a long time. 2/3 of the murders in the United States are committed with guns, and all of these mass killings, except for September 11, 2001 and the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma, have been done with guns. It was only dumb luck that the man who crashed his plane into a Texas I.R.S. Office, did not have more fatalities. It is VERY true that guns are not the only culprit … if someone wants to commit murder and mayhem, they will use whatever they know how to use … or whatever is most convenient. Guns are the easiest to get.

The massacre of 77 people in Norway was an exception, because there is little history of gun violence in Norway because of strict gun laws. Breivik also bombed government buildings on Oslo. America has mass gun violence almost on a daily basis. Seldom do these atrocities get media attention in America, unless it is at a School, Mall or Movie Theater. America is riveted to the spectacular and is drawn to screaming media coverage.

The numbers would be even more incredible if you include local incidents that have fewer victims to warrant a news story. The reality that a perfectly normal acting person can be really ACTING NORMAL. No one knows the true feelings of someone who has a deep down perception of paranoia, rejection or damaged self esteem igniting a desire for revenge. Human Mental Health changes on a daily basis … someone can snap at a moment’s notice. Witness all the workplace and Domestic violence … people can use anything to kill another human being. But, guns are the easiest weapon.

No, of course it’s not the gun’s fault. It’s the diminishing human capacity to be accountable for their actions and consider the consequences. Crazy people have easy access to guns. Stupid people don’t want to prevent that. Stupid people want to associate any gun possession responsibilities with attacks on our 300+ year old Constitution, that reflected the desires of America’s Founding Fathers in the 1700s.

If America’s Founding Fathers could see us now, 300+ years later … what do you think their priorities would be? Given the technology advancements to all things America, our Founding Fathers would obviously have worded the Second Amendment a little differently. Yes, America wants the ability to overthrow a disagreeable government. Do you really think that is feasible? Don’t you think that the government’s technology can overwhelm anything some anarchist can use? Military weapons in the hands of civilians only allows some sick minded ass-hole to commit mass murders of innocent people. Even your ordinary murderer uses more practical, personal weapons that mostly target their chosen victim. They usually don’t wipe out a whole neighborhood, school or mall to dispatch their evil spouse or evil co-worker.

Military weapons are mass human killing machines and it would be ridiculous to imagine hunting a deer or duck with one. There would be too little left to eat! GET REAL!

Even more important is that too many Modern Americans have lost the ability to identify with other REAL human beings. Modern social interaction has become ‘Wireless’ and ‘Remote’ and hands off. Self esteem is becoming more and more dependent on devices that connect people remotely. Social disconnect along with the sensory assault by violent media, marketing the thrill of violence, has changed how modern society perceives each other.

There are acceptable illnesses and unacceptable illnesses. Cancer and Heart Disease are the most socially acceptable illnesses, Mental Illness is whispered and socially unacceptable. However, Mental Illness is the gold mine for pharmaceuticals … the caveat is always the MONEY! Insurance Industry and Affordable Health Care have payment limits. When those limits are met, the patient is left to their own devices without those costly pharmaceuticals that keep them stabilized. Eventually the patient is released to family or the streets … until their benefits reset. That wait, that interruption in treatment, usually results in disaster.

Inadequate oversight and negligence go hand in hand. Endangering society to reap financial profit is criminal!Inadequate oversight is criminal, because it endangers everyone. This is what America has evolved into … exploitation at the cost of health and safety.

Because most people dislike or distrust government, no one wants government to have any control over anything … including our own well being. There are a great number of Americans who are totally dependent on government assistance … and NO they are NOT all leaches and blood suckers who scam the system because they are lazy bums. Many of them have legitimate illness or age related issues that prevent them from supporting themselves. Some day you will grow old, too … as long as you survive the ailments provided by modern technology.

There is deliberate inadequate, ineffective oversight concerning the Pharmaceutical Industry. The FDA is not funded to do it’s own testing to verify new drugs or new uses are safe. FDA has to let the fox report on the chickens. The results ALWAYS sound too good to be true. Besides, a LOT of MONEY is riding on a positive result. And, everyone knows in advance that Pharma Corporations own enough Congressmen and Senators to get past thorough oversight.

There is inadequate responsibility for mental health in America. Mental Health is a critical part of the HEALTH Industry. A LOT of Americans don’t trust the HEALTH Industry and don’t want anyone questioning their MENTAL HEALTH. Mental Health has been demonized and whispered about for over a century in America. Nothing can ever happen unless there is a willingness to participate. America does not have the guts to participate in genuine mental health diagnosis or treatment. Those that do are exposed to the Big Pharma/Health Care/Insurance three headed Mafia.

Don’t forget we are human and if we are healthy and socially functional, we have the ability to recognize our options. Those who ‘snap’ cannot see any options. So they act out their frustrations or imaginary fears. Some mentally ill can see no other courses of action available … the consequences of their actions are no longer important. Undiagnosed Mental Health issues are America’s Armageddon. They remain untreated. ~^^~

The finger pointing is not that convenient. It is a systematic failure that puts deadly ‘toys’ in the hands of people who should not have them.It is a formula … as you can see on Dr Healy’s Chart. These don’t just happen in schools. I wrote an article about an example here in Austin, a guy off his meds got hold of a gun and killed an actor.

America’s mental state needs to be addressed, but that will never happen under the current corporate leadership. Corporations have figured out how to profit from these atrocities. More drugs, more guns, more sick people not being diagnosed or treated.

I repeat: Among those profiting from the combination of Drugs, Weapons and Disinformation is Doctors, Lawyers, Gun Manufacturers, Drug Manufacturers, Hollywood, Anarchists and Armageddon Advocates.

The term “drug wars” often refers to violent cartels which bully, bribe and slaughter in the name of illegal drug profits. But another drug war is assailing America, and no machine guns are used. Rather, it’s a war inflicted by huge pharmaceutical companies — often foreign-based — which knowingly sell deadly, defective drugs for years while reaping monstrous profits. ~ Jim Adler.

So, profiteers are on a roll as long as they can keep America’s Mental Health on tilt.

It would be interesting to look at extremist militia groups, regarding paranoia and self-fulfilling prophecies, especially in light of the current revival of interest in gun control issues. It seems to me that such groups who fear that the government (or UN stormtroopers) will come to take away their guns and so create groups that practice paramilitary training and hoard firearms are creating exactly the conditions that will draw the attention of law enforcement. The more radicalized their speech and practices become, the more likely it would be that government agencies would be informed and investigate or seek informants to monitor such groups. In their minds, this would seem to confirm their paranoid visions of a police state out to squash 2nd Amendment rights and free speech. ~ sk3